Harper Kamp waited a long time for Tuesday night's game - three days short of 20 months, to be exact.

Kamp had not played in an official game since March 19, 2009, when he logged 18 minutes in Cal's first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Maryland. He became a restless spectator last season, recovering from knee surgery as the Bears won their first conference regular-season title in 50 years.

Now, with the core of that team gone, coach Mike Montgomery needs Kamp. He played solidly in his return, teaming with Markhuri Sanders-Frison and Jorge Gutierrez to lead Cal to a season-opening 80-63 victory over Cal State Northridge at Haas Pavilion.

Gutierrez scored 18 points, Sanders-Frison had a career-high 15 and Kamp added 12 as the Bears steamed away in the second half. Rashaun McLemore led Northridge with 24 points.

Kamp also corralled seven rebounds in his 30 minutes. Most important, he and Sanders-Frison (10 rebounds) provided the stout inside presence Montgomery covets after he fielded mostly a perimeter team - anchored by Jerome Randle, Patrick Christopher and Theo Robertson - the past two seasons.

"I was pretty nervous - my stomach was hurting all day," Kamp said. "I'm just thankful to be back out there. It's the best feeling in the world."

Kamp, a 6-foot-8 forward, will not overwhelm opponents with flashy moves or highlight-reel dunks. But he does the things his coach appreciates - taking charges, defending screens, pounding the boards.

Cal State Northridge shot 52 percent in taking a 37-36 halftime lead. The Bears then picked up their defense in the second half, challenging Northridge's outside shots more tenaciously.

Just like that, those shots stopped falling. Cal held the Matadors to two points in the first seven-plus minutes of the second half, as the Bears quickly took control - a 20-4 run to build a 15-point lead.

Crabbe (eight points) and Franklin (seven) had their moments, but they clearly will follow the direction of Gutierrez in a three-guard lineup. Gutierrez had eight assists and played typically suffocating defense, moving onto McLemore after he buried three consecutive outside shots midway through the second half.

Gutierrez and Sanders-Frison might have played complementary roles last season - when Kamp didn't play at all - but those three now count as Cal's core.

"All three of us are the leaders," Sanders-Frison said. "I think the freshmen look to us to help them."